Whenever I’m invited for a meal and I ask the hostess what she’d like me to bring, the answer is usually “Chocolate Torte, please!” Being the flower girl at the wedding of my mother’s younger sister Rebecca to Anthony was probably the most exciting night of my five-year-old life. I wore a long white dress…
In the Song of Songs, an allegory of the love between God and Israel, King Solomon extols the fruit of the land — apples, figs, pomegranates, dates, grapes, walnuts, cinnamon and wine. And while there are many recipes for charoset, they all include some of the ripe, luscious fruits of Solomon’s verses. Symbolic of the…
1 bunch basil, washed and dried6 radishes, thinly sliced2 Persian cucumbers, sliced on a diagonal 3 plum or Roma tomatoes, quartered lengthwise8 assorted mini bell peppers, seeded and thinly sliced 3 stalks green onions, chopped finely 1 lemon, juiced1/4 cup olive oil Kosher salt Freshly ground black pepper Arrange vegetables on a large platter or in a bowl. Dress with lemon…
Symbolic of the Paschal sacrifice, lamb features on many Seder menus. Marinating the lamb shanks with garlic and spices and cooking with dried fruits in a long slow simmer ensures a mouthwatering dish. Ingredients:4-6 lamb shanks1 large onion, sliced thinly2 tablespoons olive oil2 large carrots, sliced into thick rounds2 stalks celery, sliced thinly1 cup pitted…
When Brooklyn-born brothers Gary and Errol Winkler came to Southern California in 1973, they dreamed of bringing refreshing Coney Island-style Italian ices to the sunny West Coast. They opened several brick-and-mortar stores called Brothers Italian Ices Cafe. While the ices sold well, they found themselves devoting more and more of their time creating Italian ices…
2 large eggplants1/3 cup avocado oil or vegetable oil1/2 teaspoon garlic powderKosher salt and pepper1/2 cup crushed walnuts1 teaspoon za’atar Tahini Sauce1/3 cup tahini1/2 lemon, juiced3 tablespoons cold water1/2 teaspoon garlic powderSalt and pepper Preheat the oven to 400°F. Cut the eggplant in half lengthways, leaving the green stalk for decoration. Use a sharp knife…
Chef Shimi told us how he regularly skipped school to be with his grandmother in her kitchen. He told us how they made kubbah (meat-stuffed dumplings) together. He told us how she gave him an education in spices and a love of feeding people. He told us that she never revealed the secret of his…
2 extra-large organic eggs(break eggs open and keep the largesthalf for measuring oil and water)2 eggshells olive oil1 eggshell water1 eggshell orange blossom water (or plainwater)Juice of one lemonA big pinch of kosher salt½ teaspoon baking powder400g all-purpose flour (approximately 3 cups) Almibar (Syrup)2 cups sugar1 cup waterI lemon, cut in quarters8 tablespoons honeyPeel of…
Date Filling2 cups pitted dates1/4 cup olive oil3 tablespoons water1/4 cup crushed walnuts In a frying pan, over very low heat, combine dates and olive oil. Stir for 5 minutes until the date mixture is soft. Add water and walnuts and stir until it becomes a smooth paste. Set aside to cool. Garnish3 eggs1 tablespoon…
Ba’ba tamar are the best treat you’ve probably never had—a thin four inch round cookie made with a crispy, unsweetened dough and a soft, chewy date filling. “Sharon! Your grandmother’s cookies!!” was the excited direct message from our friend Ruth when she saw our Instagram post about the upcoming Sephardic Spice Girls Iraqi Master Bake…
Recipe 1 cup cilantro leaves1 cup parsley leaves4 tablespoons fresh lemon juice2 tablespoons apple cider vinegar 3 cloves garlic 2 tsp cumin 1 tsp coriander 2 tsp aleppo pepper or 1/4 tsp cayenne pepper1 tsp kosher salt½ tsp sweet paprika½ cup extra virgin olive oilCombine all the ingredients, except for olive oil, in food processor until finely chopped. Slowly pour…
Saffron strands1/2 cup hot water3 cups Basmati rice4 tablespoons olive oil3 teaspoons kosher salt2 cups shredded carrotsAvocado or vegetable oil for frying1 onion, finely diced1/3 cup sliced almonds1/3 cup raw pistachios1/3 cup barberries1/3 cup golden raisins1/3 cup candied orange peel Place a pinch of saffron strands in a bowl and cover with hot water., then…
Some of the most precious memories that our good friend Mona has from her childhood are the summers she spent with her grandmother Mamamohtaram in Tehran. Her grandmother lived on the ground floor of a three-story building with high walls and a large garden.Her elder son and his family lived on the middle floor and…
Recipe 1 large onion, finely diced 8 medium Russet potatoes, peeled and quartered 2 large carrots small dice1 cup frozen peas 10-12 large eggs 1 bunch fresh Italian parsley, or cilantro finely chopped 1 tablespoon turmeric2 tablespoons chicken consommĂ© Salt and freshly ground pepper, to taste 1/2 cup vegetable oil, for frying Squeeze of lemon,…
1 pound ground beef1/2 cup finely chopped Italian parsley1 medium onion, grated2 teaspoons baharat spice1 teaspoon kosher salt1/2 teaspoon pepperFor the dough1 cup farina1 cup semolina1/4 pound ground beef1 cup warm water1 teaspoon kosher salt1/2 teaspoon pepper In a large bowl, combine one pound ground beef, Italian parsley, grated onion, baharat, salt and pepper. Set…
My great-aunts would reminisce about youthful afternoons whiled away at my grandparents home. And all the goodies that would appear from their underground cellar that was filled to the brim with dried dates, nuts, jams, cheeses and other delicacies. My first memory of my grandmother Savta Rosa is at the wedding of her youngest son…
2 pounds sea bass, or any white fish1/4 cup olive oil 1 yellow onion, chopped finely 1 fennel, thinly shaved 1 teaspoon salt1 generous pinch of saffron, placed into a 1/2 cup warm water1 teaspoon turmeric1/2 cup white wine1/2 preserved lemon, chopped finely Or juice of one lemon and 1 teaspoon salt 1 tablespoon capers1/2 bunch cilantro, roughly chopped1…
Rachel’s Dafina 1 16 ounce bag garbanzo beans,soaked overnight1 whole head of garlic, unpeeled withtop cut off2 pounds boneless cheek meat (anyfatty meat will work)3-4 marrow bones (optional)12 small red potatoes, washed2 large sweet potatoes, peeled & halved1 large onion, peeled and halved2 pitted dates1 tablespoon honeySalt and pepperOlive oilWater1 dozen eggs, rinsed Assemble: In…
What began as an ode to our mothers and grandmothers has become an important effort to preserve our family recipes and the culinary traditions of the Sephardic and Mizrahi lands for the next generation. Princess Lalla Hasna was the honoree at the Gala called Salute to Morocco: Honoring a Dynasty of Tolerance. The sister of…
Viniagrette1/2 cup olive oil2 lemons, juicedSalt and pepper 1 large fennel, finely shaved1 orange, cut into segments1 blood orange, cut into segments1/2 cup oil-cured black olives1 watermelon radish, finely shaved Arrange fennel on a large dish.Garnish with orange, blood orange, olives and radish.
When my family and I moved to Los Angeles, I learned to eat the classic American after-school treats—peanut butter and jelly sandwiches and chocolate chip cookies and a tall glass of milk.By I so fondly remember those sunny Casablanca afternoons when my mother and aunt Clara would pick me up from school. My aunt drove…
